Page 41 of Sins and Virtue

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing you need to know, kotyonok.”

She poked my shoulder repeatedly, dragging out her words. “Come. On. Tell. Me.”

I reared my head in her direction; our eyes connected somehow, slowing down the motion of the world, and suddenly everything was solely about Blair. “Then tell me about thesomeoneyou miss.”

The fire snuffed out in her eyes as she groaned, rolling back over. “You win! Good night, heifer.”

“Mmhm, what was that brave facade?”

She raised her hand and gave me the middle finger.

“Ah, sister, how bad you are.”

“Kiss my ass.”

“Ah, how I would love to.” Reaching my greedy hands out to touch her, but before I could, she threw me off the bed, my focus reshifting as I realized somehow I ended up vertical, my feet facing the door. My makeshift bed was a complete disaster.

Damn. For such a little woman, she had some ferocious strength and fierce attention. And God, how I was starting to like it.

She peeked her head over the edge as I looked up at her radiating beauty.

“Now kiss the floor, sweetheart.” She hummed cheekily as she rolled back to her corner of the bed. “Night.”

“Night.”

Part of me wanted to tell her everything, but there were some things better left unsaid. For her safety and everyone else’s.

Chapter 6

Blair

“Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.” I lamented in pain watching the needle prick and break into my skin as I fucked up for the millionth time.

Hissing as I dropped the material aside on the desk, I slowly took the needle out, and with my thumb I put pressure on it as a drop of blood came to the surface.

“That’s the fifth time now! And on the same finger!” My shoulders caved in, losing hope in figuring out how to weave these damn baskets for the Easter Hunt. “Dammit!”

“What’s the complaint now, kotyonok?” The thick, aggravating, and annoying Russian voice emerged from behind me as Konstantin lay on my bed, his legs spread out as he read this morning’s newspaper. Acting as if he were some important businessman or politician who needed to know what was happening in the world to calculate his next move.

I tsked, “What does it matter to you?”

“Well, it wouldn’t if you didn’t complain every five minutes and kept interrupting my reading.” Konstantin backtalked as my eyes rolled back.

For someone who was on the run, he was oddly comfortable in my bed and too trusting that I wouldn’t report his ass to the cops.

“Well, if you don’t like it, then hop back to your prison cell. It’s not that far away.” I raised my hand and threw the middle finger over my shoulder. “Shit, no, fuck. Geez.” I realized my habit of cursing wasn’t getting any better.

I swear this was more difficult than being celibate. At least no one was spreading my legs open, but I couldn’t help but word vomit anytime I opened my mouth.

Tiny bits of self-shame festered like a growing black hole. Suddenly a hot breath breezed against my cheek as Konstantin drawled, “You’re bleeding, sweetheart.”

I jumped straight out of my seat, the back of my head bumping into his bare chest as he only wore jeans. “Holy shit!” I cursed again, adding another penance to my cross. “Don’t show up like that!”

Yet he remained straight-faced, slowly making me face him as he focused on my hands, noticing the cuts, nicks, and bruising on them. His deep, thickened brows etched together in visible concern as he flipped my hands over, gently running his thumb meticulously as my pulse fluttered. His touch was so tender, I could almost mistake it for a lover’s caress.

He inclined one brow up. “You’re reckless, you know that.”